SAVATAGE Pay Tribute To HEAVEN Vocalist ALLAN FRYER - "A Good Friend And An Inspiration To Everyone He Met"
June 9, 2015, 8 years ago
Australian rockers Heaven have announced the passing of vocalist Allan Fryer. He died at the age of 60 following a long battle with cancer. Metal legends Savatage have issued the following tribute:
"Savatage would like to extend its condolences to Allan Fryer’s family. Allan passed away after a long hard battle with cancer, he was a good friend and an inspiration to everyone he met. He will be greatly missed. For anyone who was unaware of his vocal prowess, you can see a glimpse of his legacy with his band Heaven performing Knocking On Heaven's Door."Previously, Savatage guitarist Chris Caffery issued a personal statement:
"I just learned that Allan Fryer, the lead singer from the band Heaven, has died.Allan introduced me to Paul O'Neill. In some ways I may not be where I am today without him. He was a very funny guy and an amazing singer. He had such a crazy personality. I have nothing but fond memories with Allan. He was incredibly under recognized and it is a shame the world did not hear more of that incredible voice.
He took me in my first ever trip to Disneyland. It was so incredible because I grew up with little money and our family vacations were mostly local. I had never seen anything like it.
Rest in peace my friend."
Fryer formed Heaven under the name Fat Lip in 1980 and moved to Sydney shortly after, changing the band name in the process. Heaven released three albums between 1982 and 1985: Twilight Of Mischief, Where Angels Fear To Tread and Knockin' On Heaven's Door. Fryer had been in the running to replace Bon Scott in AC/DC, but he lost the gig to current singer Brian Johnson.
In 2012, after 30 years of silence, the Heaven rhythm section of Joe Turtur, Laurie Marlow and John Haese re-united with Allan Fryer and hooked up with Rowan Robertson, as Mitch Perry was unavailable.
